Portable sink



June 13, 1967 D. P. CONROY 3,324,483

' PORTABLE SINK Filed Nov. 15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR D NHEL,coNQoy ATTORNEY June 13, 1967 R C NROY 3,324,483

PORTABLE SINK Filed Nov. 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 49 L @1 w A L Ii 5*/7 /6 H F165. 5 29 I Fis6 4 U 6 Q 6' a 5 Z INVENTOR DANHEL D. CONQOYATTORNEY United States Patent 3,324,433 PORTABLE SINK Daniel P. Conroy,Amityville, N.Y., assignor to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Nov. 13, 1964. Ser. No.411,163 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-187) The invention described herein may bemanufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposeswithout the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a portable sink, and more particularly to aportable, lightweight, washing sink that will provide heated water tofield surgeons for scrubbing.

An object of this invention, is to provide a compact, foldable,inexpensive, lightweight, easily assembled, heated-water, portablewashing sink capable of being easily carried by one person.

Anther object is to provide a gravity flow water system for a sinkwherein the rate of flow is adjustable by means of a valve upstream froma full on-ofr" type faucet valve.

Anther object is to provide a hot water system wherein the heateroperates only when the faucet is open.

The structural features of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the full-assembled sink;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation showing the construction of the catch basin;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sink base and vertical supportmember;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the faucet assembly, with the waterproofcovering removed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the water heater mounting plate; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the suction bulb used to start waterflow in the sink.

Referring to the drawings, the sink is supported by base 1. Base 1consists of horizontal members 2, crossmember 3, base platform 4, andplatform support 5. Base extensions 6 are pivotally mounted at 7 and areunfolded to extend the base when the sink is assembled. Platform support5 is connected to members 2 by hinges 8, and to platform 4 by fastener9. Vertical support 10 is pivotally connected to lugs 11 of base 1.Latch 12 locks vertical support 10 in operating place. Base platform 4is connected to support 10 by hinges 13. When in collapsed position,platform 4 is folded parallel to vertical support 10, support 5 isfolded parallel to members 2, extensions 6 are folded back within thedimensions of members 2, and support 10 is folded parallel to members 2.

To attach basin 14, vertical support extensions 15 are inserted insupport 10, and the insert plugs 16 of basin frame 17 are placed in theopen ends of extensions 15. Frame members 17 as well as 2, 3, 6, and 10are preferably made of square extruded aluminum. Waterproof fabric basin14 is draped over frame 17 and secured by a friction fit and by snap-onbuttons 18. Metal outlet 19 is provided at the bottom of basin 14.

Faucet assembly 20 consists of faucet support 21, spout 22, ball valve23, needle valve 24, elbow-actuated handle 25, cam 26, and microswitch27. Support 21 is placed over frame 17 and secured thereto by a clip 28and by :bar 29 which is pivotally connected to support 10 at 30 andreleasably connected to support 21 at 31. Microswitch 27 is supported byplatform 32 which is bolted 3,324,483- Patented June 13, 1967 to support21. The microswitch 27 is of the roller actuator type and is located onplatform 32 so that when handle 25 is turned, cam 26, attached to handle25, causes roller plunger 33 to actuate the microswitch. Microswitch 27is conventional, one suitable example being Minneapolis- HoneywellCompany Type No. BAFl-ZRZN8-LH. The entire switch-actuator-cam assemblyis preferably encased in waterproof covering 34. Ball valve 23 is aconventional full on-off valve such as the Salisbury Ball Valve No. 350.The turning of handle 25 from the center position causes valve 23 toopen and permit flow of water. The rate of water flow is controlled byconventional needle valve 24, located upstream from valve 23. A No. 115SAE needle valve is suitable for this purpose.

The water heater used with this invention is conventional, such as theModel M1 instant heater made by Landam Products Corporation of GreatNeck, New York. The heater consists of heating unit 35, expansionchamber 36, on-off switch 37, and mounting plate 38. The heater isattached to platform 4 by rotating mounting plate 38 so as to engage theplate tabs under thumb screws 39. Thumb screws 39 are then tightened tosecure the heater.

In operation, a water source such as a standard Army five-gallon can, iselevated so as to provide at least two feet of head. Adaptor 40 isinserted into the can closure and inlet hose 41 is connected to heater35. Feed hose 42 connects the heating unit to the faucet assembly.Microswitch 27 is connected to heater 35 by waterproof electricalconductor 43. Electrical lead 44 is connected to an outside power sourceand ground conductor 46 is connected to heater 35 and to ground. Whenhandle 25 is turned from the center position, ball valve 23 is caused toopen and microswitch 27 is actuated by cam 26. With valve 23 open, wateris allowed to flow from the source, through the heating unit, the thespout. The rate of flow is predetermined by adjusting valve 24. Theactuation of microswitch 27 turns on the water heater. By this system,water flowing at approximately one quart per minute and at approximatelydegrees Fahrenheit can be obtained. If desired, a standard,foot-operated detergent dispenser 45 can be attached to basin frame 17.

To start the gravity flow of water, the heater switch 37 is placed inthe off position, the faucet handle is turned to open valve 23, and thesuction end of a double-acting suction bulb 46 is inserted into spout22. The action of the bulb evacuates the water feed lines. When waterbegins to flow, the bulb is removed and the primed faucet is closed.

The sink weighs only approximately 25 pounds, can be assembled by oneman in five minutes, will raise the water temperature 60 degrees in 30seconds, and will fold into a suitcase-like container occupying a volumeof no more than two and one-half cubic feet. This transportingcompactness and simplicity without sacrifice of high performancecharacteristics is the essential feature of this invention.

I claim:

1. A portable sink comprising:

(a) 'a collapsible base;

(b) a vertical basin support which is pivotally connected to the base;

(c) a foldable waterproof catch basin attached to the vertical support;

(d) faucet means connected to a water supply and to the verticalsupport; and

(e) heating means located between the water supply and the faucet, toheat the water.

2. The portable sink described in claim 1, wherein the heating means isa fast-acting electrical Water heater which operates only when the sinkfaucet is open.

3. A portable sink comprising:

(a) a collapsible base;

(b) an expandable, vertical basin support which is pivotally connectedto the base;

(c) a catch basin consisting of a frame and a waterproof, foldablefabric removably attached to the frame;

(d) faucet means connected to a water supply and to the verticalsupport, said faucet having valve means independent of the faucet handlefor regulating the rate of flow of the water; and

(e) electrical heating means attached to the sink base to heat the waterbefore it reaches the faucet.

4. The portable sink described in claim 3, wherein the electric heateris controlled by the faucet handle through 4 a microswitch so that theheater operates only when the faucet is open, wherein the faucet valveis of the full onoff type, and wherein the rate of water flow iscontrolled by a needle valve located upstream from the faucet valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 516,438 3/1894 Hurst et a1.1376l3 1,163,536 12/1915 Henriksen 2l9309 X 1,200,394 10/ 1916 Robinson.1,685,364 9/1928 Kopatz 219309 1,856,805 5/1932 Call 248-166 2,371,8303/1945 Langdon 137613 X 2,500,215 3/1950 Swearingen 24846 FOREIGNPATENTS 249,650 4/ 1926 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

2O HAROLD J. GROSS, Examiner.

1. A PORTABLE SINK COMPRISING: (A) A COLLAPSIBLE BASE; (B) A VERTICALBASIN SUPPORT WHICH IS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE BASE; (C) A FOLDABLEWATERPROOF CATCH BASIN ATTACHED TO THE VERTICAL SUPPORT; (D) FAUCETMEANS CONNECTED TO A WATER SUPPLY AND TO THE VERTICAL SUPPORT; AND (E)HEATING MEANS LOCATED BETWEEN THE WATER SUPPLY AND THE FAUCET, TO HEATTHE WATER.